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Fleet Mistress Sarina Potter, Vagaari Flagship – Kintan System.

"You have no idea who you're messing with, human! I am... AHHHHG!"

The captain's desperate speech was interrupted by a precise strike from Asterion. The blade of the Emperor's spear lit up with an emerald glow and an instant later, the alien captain's head rolled across the floor of the ship's bridge.

"I don't have time for this," the Emperor snapped coldly, making a gesture of indifference with his hand and causing the soldiers present on the Bridge to begin executing every slaver without exception or mercy.

Some tried to negotiate, threaten, or even beg for mercy.

Alas, the Empire did not negotiate with slavers, the punishment was always the same.

Execution on the spot.

Within seconds, the bridge of the mysterious vessel fell completely silent. Absolutely all the slavers were dead and the barges were now property of the Empire.

"Have our boys make sure to clear the ship completely. There must be records of every slave these animals possessed. We will not leave this system until each and every one of them is safe," ordered the Emperor, causing the two captains to strike their chests and leave the Bridge to carry out their orders, leaving Sarina alone with Harold.

And the young Fleet Mistress did not waste a single second before throwing herself into Harry's arms, losing herself in the safety that the mere presence of her beloved provided.

"Oh, by the Lady! I missed you so much, my love," said the Twi'lek, sighing as she felt Harold's strong arms around her.

"I missed you as well, dear, but we are not finished yet. What do we know about our guests?" asked Harold as he sat down in the command chair and seated Sarina on his lap.

The Fleet Mistress snuggled against him and replied.

"Unknown species, humanoids, blue skin and red eyes. Their ships are sophisticated and elegant. We do not know the military capability of their vessels, but initial scans place them at an above-average galactic scale, though below our battleships and Carriers. Their attack vector indicates a naval doctrine focused on discipline and ambush tactics. Neutral toward the Empire, so far," said the Twi'lek maiden, causing Harry to nod softly.

"We do not travel across the galaxy looking for enemies, but one can never be cautious enough. What do we know about this Captain...?" asked Harold with hesitation in his voice, genuinely unable to pronounce the complicated Chiss captain's name.

Sarina laughed softly and said.

"Captain Thrawn. Apparently, he was on a rescue and capture mission. The objective was the captain you just executed, as well as the heiress of a Chiss family, who was ambushed and enslaved," said Sarina while frowning.

The Emperor gently massaged Sarina's back while considering his response.

"The captain signed his death sentence the moment we found Imperial citizens aboard his barge, but we can guarantee the return of the Chiss maiden, as well as the rest of the prisoners. Do we know where she is?" asked the Emperor with curiosity.

Sarina made a dissatisfied expression and answered calmly.

"Yes, she was... taken as the personal slave of the captain you executed. We found her tied to his bed... the doctors are already treating her, but the trauma is quite severe. Apparently, she requested to speak with you," said the Twi'lek, shuddering merely from remembering the pitiful condition in which the young Chiss had been found.

Harold frowned and replied.

"These Vagaari seem to have a vendetta against the Chiss, and if the Vagaari are allies of the Hutts, perhaps an alliance with this Chiss Ascendancy would be in our interest," said the Emperor.

Sarina was about to respond when one of the droids present spoke.

"Emperor Harold, we have a transmission from General Price originating from the planet. He states that it is extremely important, something completely decisive in the war," said the droid, causing both Sarina and Harry to frown.

After all, Price was many things, but not a chatterbox, and if he said the information was important.

Then it was.

"Send the transmission to the ship's terminal," ordered the Emperor, while ending the transmission and having the soldier reroute Price's message here.

Curiously, Sarina asked.

"Do you think everything is alright, dear?" unable to stop herself from worrying.

Harold simply smiled while beginning to gently caress Sarina's thigh, drawing sighs from the beautiful Twi'lek.

"We'll find out soon enough."

A moment later, the transmission reached the bridge of the ship, and both Sarina and Harold found themselves face to face with Price, still wearing his combat armor.

"Everything alright, Price? The fighting up here is already over," said the Emperor with a small laugh.

Once the Marauder had entered the battle and the Emperor had boarded the enemy vessel, Price had descended to coordinate the boys during the pacification of the planet, and although the number of slaves was alarming, it remained within expected parameters for a planet as strategically located as Kintan.

"My boys are currently besieging the largest slaver settlement on the southern continent, and one of our Hawk drones managed to record this," said the General with evident satisfaction, while displaying how plasma siege batteries destroyed a luxurious vessel before it could take flight, while two obese and familiar Hutts hurried back toward the safety of the slaver fortress.

"Well... well," said Harold, watching the image with perverse satisfaction.

"The twins are on Kintan, an opportunity we cannot afford to waste, My Lord," said Sarina with a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes that she could not hide.

Two members of the disgusting Council in the palm of her hand...

It was an opportunity far too good to waste.

"Have Bo and my daughters deploy a Dreadnought Continent at Price's position. I want those pieces of shit alive, at least for the moment," ordered the Emperor, causing Sarina to nod and begin relaying Harold's orders.

At that moment, the doors of the bridge opened softly, revealing Jedi Master Fay, who carried a data pad in her hand and a face filled with concern.

"Emperor Harold... my apologies for disturbing you, but I have something I need to discuss with you," said the beautiful woman, while her hands clung to the data pad with evident nervousness.

Harold made a calming gesture before speaking.

"Do not worry, Fay. What is it?" asked the Emperor, noticing the more than evident tension in the beautiful woman's demeanor. It was obvious that something was troubling the Jedi deeply.

"I have reviewed the ship's communication servers together with your slicers. We have decoded thousands of messages and transmissions between Kintan and Nal Hutta. Apparently, the Hutt Council hired the Vagaari to escort a Council contingent to a particular location, the Lehon System," said Fay, the anxiety and fear in her voice more than evident.

Sarina looked at the Jedi curiously, noticing the slight tension in the Emperor's posture.

"What is so important about this system? It is not one I am familiar with," confessed the Twi'lek.

And Sarina received her answer from Harold.

"The Lehon System was once one of the fortress systems of the Rakata Infinite Empire, infamous for a single reason."

"The Star Forge."

Said the Emperor, focusing all of his attention on Fay, while the Jedi Master nodded softly.

"Star Forge? What is that?" asked Sarina with a frown, feeling foolish for not knowing what they were talking about.

And her beloved Harry gave her an answer.

"The Star Forge was a Rakatan station powered by the Force. As its name implies, it was a titanic forge that utilized the energy of the star in the Lehon System to create ships, droids, and war machinery at a simply absurd speed. According to the records of Dathomir, during Darth Malak's war, the damned station could produce a capital ship in a matter of hours," said the Emperor solemnly, having a bad feeling.

Sarina, totally stunned, could only asked.

"That... the power something like that could grant to anyone in the galaxy is simply incredible. I'm surprised there aren't people all across the galaxy searching for it," said the Fleet Mistress sincerely.

The Emperor simply shrugged and replied.

"That is because it was destroyed a thousand years ago, right at the end of the Jedi Civil War. A Republic fleet, assisted by Master Jedi Bastila Shan, destroyed it," said the Emperor, causing Sarina to nod with evident relief, grateful that they would not have to deal with such a dangerous and tempting station.

Alas, the beautiful Fleet Mistress knew that relief could not last.

"But... that is not the truth, Emperor Harold," said Fay with a voice full of caution, while a grimace formed on her face, causing both the Emperor and Sarina to focus their attention upon the beautiful woman.

"What do you mean?" asked her beloved, while rising to his feet and focusing all of his attention upon the Jedi with such intensity that Fay could not help but swallow nervously.

"It... it will be better if I show you," said Fay, while slipping her hand into the pocket of her robe and withdrawing a blue pyramid-shaped object.

"What is this?" asked Sarina with curiosity.

Fay smiled softly and answered.

"This is a Holocron, a device Force-sensitives use to store enormous quantities of data, information, or lessons. This particular one belonged to Jedi Grand Master Bastila Shan and was recorded years after the Battle of the Star Forge, preserving one of the greatest secrets in the history of the Jedi Order," said the blonde solemnly.

At the same time, she focused her attention on the curious object, which began to levitate and slowly open, evidently through the use of the Force.

"Holy shit," whispered the Fleet Mistress as she watched a holographic projection of an elderly woman appear upon the bridge of the vessel.

Clad in a brown robe and despite her advanced age, she projected an image of overwhelming power and elegance.

"Master Bastila Shan, days before becoming one with the Force," said Fay reverently, while the projection began to speak.

"If you are seeing this message, then you have found my personal workshop, the one my beloved and I hid in the far corners of the galaxy, far from the judgmental eyes of the Order and the Republic. A small sanctuary for Siri and for me, when I was young and naïve, when I truly believed... that I could have a happy ending," said the projection with a heavy sigh, losing herself in her own thoughts.

"The message is simple. The entire Republic believes... that the fleet was truly capable of destroying the Star Forge, that the station fell into the star of Lehon and vanished in a glorious explosion. Nothing could be further from the truth," the elderly woman stated with a sigh.

"The Star Forge... is a piece of living engineering. It possesses a certain consciousness, as well as the Remnant of all the souls that were used by the cruel Rakata to construct it. It is not something we can destroy. Not even our most devastating weapons were capable of destroying it completely."

Sarina had a bad feeling.

And judging by the intense look on Harold's face, the Emperor did as well.

"When Siri defeated Darth Malak and we took control of the station, we decided that the safest course of action was to make the galaxy believe that it had been destroyed, and we used every tractor beam in the fleet to pull it out of orbit and launch it into Lehon's phantom Nebula. Without a star to feed it, the station would enter hibernation and would never be able to cause harm again."

"Shit," whispered Harry, his hands trembling with fury while the Jedi continued.

"I beg you, whoever you are, make certain that the knowledge that the Star Forge still exists does not fall into the wrong hands, and may the Force be with you."

With those words, the message ended and the Holocron closed once more.

And suddenly, everything began to make sense.

The urgency of the larvae.

The hiring of the Vagaari.

The interest in the Lehon System...

"The Hutts... they're looking for the station!" whispered Sarina in realization, causing Fay and Harold to nod solemnly.

"If they find it and restore it to orbit, then they could begin producing ships and droids in mass quantities, fast enough to challenge us and overwhelm us," said Harold, his face twisted with fury, while the Force around him began making the atmosphere increasingly tense.

Several objects started levitating around him without apparent control.

Sarina frowned as her mind raced through the possible solutions to this... problem.

The plans had been clear.

Conquer Kintan.

Begin the terraforming process.

Transform it into the spearhead for an assault against the Hutts on Nal Hutta within a year or two.

But this information...

Changed everything.

And Sarina knew Harold was thinking the same thing.

"We only have one course of action, Attack" said the Emperor with a sigh as he rose to his feet and walked toward the bridge window, observing Kintan with a frown and a worried expression.

"We don't have time to waste. I'll go down there and finish the fighting as quickly as possible. We'll regroup at Gaia Prime and plan our offensive."

"Sarina, we must prepare for the worst."

"Exterminatus Protocol."

Said the Emperor solemnly, paralyzing the Twi'lek for an instant before she nodded softly.

"As you command, My Lord," said the Fleet Mistress cautiously, watching as Harold wrapped his body in emerald flames before disappearing from the Bridge, undoubtedly to sow terror among the slavers.

Sarina simply inhaled deeply.

For better or worse...

The end was near.

Exterminatus Protocol would ensure that Nal Hutta disappeared from the galactic map.

But at the cost of the millions of slaves the Hutts kept on their capital world.

The decision would not be easy.

And although she hoped it would not become necessary to use the planet killer, she knew perfectly well that Harold would not hesitate if the need arose.

"Come, Master Jedi. We have much to do," ordered Sarina softly, leaving the bridge of the slaver vessel.

The orders had been given, after all.

Shaak Ti, Jedi Convoy – Gaia Prime System, Days Later.

"Are you sure the Empire will accept us, Master Ti? The Temple sent us to the agricultural farms... I... I don't want to be a burden," said the young human girl while gently playing with her ponytail and nervously staring into the hyperspace void.

"The Empire is relatively new, little one. I have contacts on Gaia Prime. I am certain that a far more interesting life awaits you there than the agricultural farms, that much is certain," said the Togruta.

At that exact moment, the alarms announced their arrival in the Gaia System.

"We've arrived!" exclaimed the young human, her face filled with excitement.

Her expression transformed into complete amazement the moment the vortex disappeared, revealing the glorious capital of the Emerald Empire.

Gaia Prime.

"WOOOOOW!" said all the children, looking with excitement and pointing toward the immense Genesis Station, which was guarded by hundreds of warships, although the Jedi Master noticed that they were... different fleets.

Some possessed the characteristic design of the Gaia System, quite similar to the Marauder, but others...

Had clear Mandalorian and even Naboo influences.

They were warships, all loyal to Harold Potter, but...

Clearly distinct.

They possessed identity.

And evidently free will.

An instant later, the station's flight control made itself known, demanding information and purpose of travel.

"Jedi Master Shaak Ti, requesting an audience with Emperor Harold or the corresponding authority, seeking asylum," said the Togruta with calm and naturalness.

She was not nervous.

The Force was on her side.

Even...

Eager for this moment to arrive.

The Jedi Master could not help but think about that vision that had haunted her nights for days.

That one of herself, adorned like a trophy, dressed in the Emperor's colors and kneeling before his throne, while proudly feeding her offspring, the result of the Emperor taking possession of her body.

Naturally, Shaak Ti knew that this was a natural instinct among all Togruta.

They were social and herd-oriented creatures.

Generally, one male commanding half a dozen females with ease.

But for Shaak Ti, there existed only one worthy mate.

Emperor Harold.

Flight control granted her direct access to the palace, and upon entering the station, both she and the initiates looked in wonder at the immense size of the infamous Marauder, the flagship of the Empire.

And the most powerful battleship in modern galactic history.

Considering that it had destroyed an entire fleet by itself.

"Come, little ones. Remember, we need to make a great impression during our audience," said Shaak Ti, causing all of them to nod obediently.

"Yes, Master Ti," they said in unison, making her smile.

The moment of truth had arrived.

She had to play her cards in the best possible way to obtain the greatest prize.

The Emperor's favor.

The Emperor's attention.

And the Emperor's love.

There was no time to waste.